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Author Topic: Harvoni - starting tx - need input pretty please  (Read 16467 times)

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Offline mbegon

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  • Posts: 4
Harvoni - starting tx - need input pretty please
« on: April 19, 2015, 11:51:11 am »
Failed 2X pegasys & ribavirin (miserable sides). Stage 4 compensated cirrhosis with insulin dependent diabetes, high blood pressure and horrible plaque psoriasis (got the p from previous tx with interferon). Really happy and grateful to get another chance to get rid of this of 30 years.

Question(s)? I'll be on 24 weeks and would like to know if the sides get worse as the weeks go by? If there are any diabetics out there would also like to know if Harvoni will interfere with insulin and/or bp meds? Anyone with psoriasis, has it worsened? Any info/tips/experience is totally appreciated, thank you!
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Offline BubbaT

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  • Posts: 267
Re: Harvoni - starting tx - need input pretty please
« Reply #1 on: April 19, 2015, 02:09:08 pm »
Hi mebgon,

I would like to offer support and tell you, there are a lot of us, fighting the fight...

i can report my side effects seem to be diminishing the farther I go, I'm at week 7,
I'm going 12 weeks... I was F4, having similar symptoms as you listed, but not taking any medications, no psoriasis...

Diet is important, and staying hydrated is key...

Logged
Age 57 male
Infected late 70's
Diagnosed 95
1a, 2 prev biopsy 95, 2004
Ct 2007, 2015
Treatment Naive
F4 A3. Fibrosure/ CT 2-5-15. Ammonia 222
VL 2.2 mil.
Started Harvoni  3-3-15. 12weeks, finished 5-26-15
4 week VL undetected
12 week EOT undetected

Offline Lynn K

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 4,546
  • Get tested, get treated, get cured, fight Hep c!
Re: Harvoni - starting tx - need input pretty please
« Reply #2 on: April 20, 2015, 01:12:38 am »
Hi mbegon and welcome

I am also GT 1a did I did interferon monotherapy and two rounds with interferon riba I was a null responder I was disagnosed with cirrhosis in Jan 2008. I treated last year with Sovaldi and Olysio but relapsed after treatment ended.

I don't have any other health problems other than the hep c and cirrhosis. I have been treating with Harvoni for 24 weeks and added Ribavirin at week 9.

I have 15 days to go on treatment.

As far as sides the only ones I have had are anemia from the Ribavirin didn't really have any sides from Harvoni.

Good luck on treatment
Logged
Genotype 1a
1978 contracted, 1990 Dx
1995 Intron A failed
2001 Interferon Riba null response
2003 Pegintron Riba trial med null response
2008 F4 Cirrhosis Bx
2014 12 week Sov/Oly relapse
10/14 fibroscan 27 PLT 96
2014 24 weeks Harvoni 15 weeks Riba
5/4/15 EOT not detected, ALT 21, AST 20
4 week post not detected, ALT 26, AST 28
12 week post NOT DETECTED (07/27/15)
ALT 29, AST 27 PLT 92
24 week post NOT DETECTED! (10/19/15)
44 weeks (3/11/16)  fibroscan 33, PLT 111, HCV NOT DETECTED!
I AM FREE!

Offline cj

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  • Posts: 24
Re: Harvoni - starting tx - need input pretty please
« Reply #3 on: April 20, 2015, 07:00:14 am »
The sides do get worse later on but tolerable I just finished 12 wk treatment 2 weeks ago before treatment my sugar  was borderline  I believe it might be from the hcv..during treatment  my blood preasure was also getting higher so your blood pressure  meds might be a good thing .one of the worst things joint pain about half way through. ..they say drink  a lot of water and I was drinking 10 to 15 huge  glasses a.day ...that may of been to much ..and believe it caused the joint pain..I'm not hurting as bad now...my feet get swollen  and  can  barely  walk did not have that before treatment in any case once your treatment the is done I bet you see inprovement in both conditions., good luck and best wishes to hope for your easy recovery
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Offline cj

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  • Posts: 24
Re: Harvoni - starting tx - need input pretty please
« Reply #4 on: April 20, 2015, 07:06:59 am »
Lynn k  congratula
tions on the 2 weeks left ...good for you ..best wishes  cj
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Offline mbegon

  • Member
  • Posts: 4
Re: Harvoni - starting tx - need input pretty please
« Reply #5 on: April 20, 2015, 10:43:17 am »
Thanks Bubba for your input, your support is welcomed!

Lynn ty - long road for you.  This time it will work!

CJ thanks to you too - planning to drink 8 12 oz glasses of water per day - perhaps this is enough.  Glad you are finished and hope you get great results.

You guys are the best, thank you again!
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Offline SIXFOOTFOUR

  • Member
  • Posts: 89
Re: Harvoni - starting tx - need input pretty please
« Reply #6 on: April 20, 2015, 11:02:52 am »
In my case side effects  have decreased as I move through treatment. Started with mild GI problems and headaches but with plenty of hydration and taking med at same time daily I think helped to minimize the problems
Logged
Sixfootfour
* Contracted Hep C 1971 post transfusion (non A - non
   B Hep dx in 1971)
* Dx as Hep C early 2000
* Geno 1b
* Stage 3-4 Fibrosis by Biopsy and FibroScan
* VL at start of TX > 6 mil
* ALT/AST High normal range at start of Tx 
* Started Harvoni 12 week course 3/6/15 -
   completion 5/29/15
* Undetected at 6 weeks on Tx
* ALT/AST Mid normal range at 6 week blood test
* Completed 12 weeks (84 pills) 6/28/15
* Undetected at 11 weeks & 6 months EOT

Offline ponygirl

  • Member
  • Posts: 39
Re: Harvoni - starting tx - need input pretty please
« Reply #7 on: April 22, 2015, 03:26:44 am »
Make sure you talk to your pharmacist and gastro and Cardiologist about BP meds and Harvoni. There are some warnings related to one specific BP med BUT I don't known which one but there are some reported concerns regarding Harvoni and Beta Blockers. I had normal BP (resting at 113/70) and pulse 70 before starting Harvoni. On Harvoni I have spikes at rest for no reason to 154/85 with pulse of 90.  They start 2 hrs after my dose. I will say at week 6 the incidents have decreased and are not daily.  I have also had increased incidents of arrhythmia and tachycardia but those have also decreased at week 6. So I am not sure if the heart symptoms were related to Harvoni or the Ribavirin that they decreased the dosage on at week 4.

Good luck.

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Offline mbegon

  • Member
  • Posts: 4
Re: Harvoni - starting tx - need input pretty please
« Reply #8 on: April 22, 2015, 11:50:21 am »
Thanks SixFootFour - glad you're doing better now.  Took my first pill yesterday and I didn't blow up, so I took another one today.  Strange feeling but okay!

Thank you too Ponygirl - I'm aware of the beta blockers, not on these meds at this time.  Have to go back to my cardiologist in July and he said then I might be put on a beta blocker.  I may not need anything at that time. Don't like taking pills if I don't have to!

As an aside I spoke to a Gilead pharmacist yesterday - He said this pill doesn't require hydration and doesn't have to be taken at the same time each day.  Asked him this question "do all people test undetectable while on Harvoni?"  He was a little reluctant to commit - but he did say "yes something like that."  He further explained which most people already know that only when the meds are finished and 12-week post tx labs are drawn will we know for sure that we've beaten this.   I'm a positive thinker and will settle for nothing less :)   

« Last Edit: April 22, 2015, 01:47:59 pm by mbegon »
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Offline Debula

  • Member
  • Posts: 257
  • "Your body hears everything your mind says"
Re: Harvoni - starting tx - need input pretty please
« Reply #9 on: April 22, 2015, 02:56:53 pm »
mbegon
You made me laugh when I read this
Quote
Took my first pill yesterday and I didn't blow up, so I took another one today.

That is exactly how I felt. (a week ago tomorrow) so far all is good and just today on day 7 my headache is more persistent but nothing I can't handle
Good luck with your treatment :)
Logged
80's DX: NonA,B
Non responder to Interferon
3/6/2015-GT 1a
VL-1920000 IU/mL
FibroSURE: Fibrosis stage F4 (0.79)
                  Necroinflammat activity A3 Severe (0.75)
AST 88,  ALT 120, Platelets 73
4/16/2015-Started Harvoni (24 weeks)
5/13/2015-4 weeks AST 26, ALT 36 
5/22/2015-5 weeks  VL UND
6/17/2015-9 weeks  VL UND AST 28 ALT 40
7/31/2015-15 weeks VL UND AST 27 ALT 39
9/22 Diagnosed with HCC
10/1-EOT
10/29-SVR4
12/23-SVR12
I AM HEPC FREE! :)

Offline mbegon

  • Member
  • Posts: 4
Re: Harvoni - starting tx - need input pretty please
« Reply #10 on: April 25, 2015, 04:08:37 pm »
Debula.. glad I provided a laugh for you .....- hope your headaches go away.  I'm on day 5 now, so far so good AND I STILL DIDN'T BLOW UP :)  Good luck!
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Offline Lynn K

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 4,546
  • Get tested, get treated, get cured, fight Hep c!
Re: Harvoni - starting tx - need input pretty please
« Reply #11 on: April 25, 2015, 04:11:42 pm »
Yup day 159 still no explosions
Logged
Genotype 1a
1978 contracted, 1990 Dx
1995 Intron A failed
2001 Interferon Riba null response
2003 Pegintron Riba trial med null response
2008 F4 Cirrhosis Bx
2014 12 week Sov/Oly relapse
10/14 fibroscan 27 PLT 96
2014 24 weeks Harvoni 15 weeks Riba
5/4/15 EOT not detected, ALT 21, AST 20
4 week post not detected, ALT 26, AST 28
12 week post NOT DETECTED (07/27/15)
ALT 29, AST 27 PLT 92
24 week post NOT DETECTED! (10/19/15)
44 weeks (3/11/16)  fibroscan 33, PLT 111, HCV NOT DETECTED!
I AM FREE!

Offline Debula

  • Member
  • Posts: 257
  • "Your body hears everything your mind says"
Re: Harvoni - starting tx - need input pretty please
« Reply #12 on: April 25, 2015, 07:04:42 pm »
Haha I think it is safe to say we probably aren't going to blow up after all :P
Day 10 for me and no sides at all
Lynn- you are SO close !   You must be excited
( I have 158 days to go-LOL)
Logged
80's DX: NonA,B
Non responder to Interferon
3/6/2015-GT 1a
VL-1920000 IU/mL
FibroSURE: Fibrosis stage F4 (0.79)
                  Necroinflammat activity A3 Severe (0.75)
AST 88,  ALT 120, Platelets 73
4/16/2015-Started Harvoni (24 weeks)
5/13/2015-4 weeks AST 26, ALT 36 
5/22/2015-5 weeks  VL UND
6/17/2015-9 weeks  VL UND AST 28 ALT 40
7/31/2015-15 weeks VL UND AST 27 ALT 39
9/22 Diagnosed with HCC
10/1-EOT
10/29-SVR4
12/23-SVR12
I AM HEPC FREE! :)

Offline Lynn K

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 4,546
  • Get tested, get treated, get cured, fight Hep c!
Re: Harvoni - starting tx - need input pretty please
« Reply #13 on: April 25, 2015, 08:51:12 pm »
Who me EXCITED!!!!!!!

Nah not me lol
Logged
Genotype 1a
1978 contracted, 1990 Dx
1995 Intron A failed
2001 Interferon Riba null response
2003 Pegintron Riba trial med null response
2008 F4 Cirrhosis Bx
2014 12 week Sov/Oly relapse
10/14 fibroscan 27 PLT 96
2014 24 weeks Harvoni 15 weeks Riba
5/4/15 EOT not detected, ALT 21, AST 20
4 week post not detected, ALT 26, AST 28
12 week post NOT DETECTED (07/27/15)
ALT 29, AST 27 PLT 92
24 week post NOT DETECTED! (10/19/15)
44 weeks (3/11/16)  fibroscan 33, PLT 111, HCV NOT DETECTED!
I AM FREE!
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